U.S. patent application number 15/025319 was filed with the patent office on 2016-08-11 for data-processing device, program, recording medium and data-processing method for generation of data that indicates navigation performance of ship.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIPPON YUSEN KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is NIPPON YUSEN KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Hideyuki Ando, Shusaku Ueno.
Application Number | 20160229500 15/025319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52742319 |
Filed Date | 2016-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160229500 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ando; Hideyuki ; et
al. |
August 11, 2016 |
DATA-PROCESSING DEVICE, PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM AND
DATA-PROCESSING METHOD FOR GENERATION OF DATA THAT INDICATES
NAVIGATION PERFORMANCE OF SHIP
Abstract
A terminal device stores ship characteristic data that indicates
a relationship between rotation speed and ship speed, and rotation
speed and fuel consumption when a ship is navigated under various
navigation conditions. If a user inputs data that indicates draft
state and wind and wave state on a performance display screen
displayed on the terminal device, the terminal device generates
relationship data that indicates a relationship between rotation
speed and ship speed, and rotation speed and fuel consumption when
a ship is navigated under wind and wave states corresponding to the
input data and each of a plurality of Beaufort states that are set
in the terminal device in advance on the basis of the ship
characteristic data. The terminal device displays a graph that
displays the relationship between rotation speed, ship speed and
fuel consumption for each of a plurality of navigation conditions
using the relationship data.
Inventors: |
Ando; Hideyuki; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Ueno; Shusaku; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NIPPON YUSEN KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
NIPPON YUSEN KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
52742319 |
Appl. No.: |
15/025319 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
September 27, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/076345 |
371 Date: |
March 28, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 79/20 20200101;
B63B 49/00 20130101; G06F 3/14 20130101; B63B 79/30 20200101; G01C
21/203 20130101; B63H 2025/045 20130101; G06T 11/206 20130101; B63B
79/40 20200101; B63B 79/00 20200101; B63B 79/15 20200101; B63H
25/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63B 49/00 20060101
B63B049/00; G06T 11/20 20060101 G06T011/20; G06F 3/14 20060101
G06F003/14; B63H 25/04 20060101 B63H025/04 |
Claims
1.-14. (canceled)
15. A data-processing device comprising: a ship characteristic data
acquisition means for acquiring ship characteristic data that
indicates characteristics pertaining to the navigation of one ship,
a wind/wave state data acquisition means for acquiring wind/wave
state data that indicates the state of wind and/or waves the one
ship receives during navigation, a relationship data generation
means for generating, on the basis of the ship characteristic data,
relationship data that indicates the relationship between two or
more indicators from among a rotation speed indicator that
indicates the level of the rotation speed of the propeller that
drives the one ship when the one ship is navigated under the wind
and/or wave state indicated by the wind/wave state data, a fuel
consumption indicator that indicates whether the fuel consumption
is the amount of fuel consumed by the one ship per unit time or per
unit navigation distance, a ship speed indicator that indicates the
level of the navigation speed of the one ship, a load indicator
that indicates the level of the load on the propulsion device of
the one ship, and a navigation efficiency indicator that indicates
the level of the navigation efficiency of the one ship, and an
output means for outputting the relationship data or data generated
using the relationship data.
16. The data-processing device according to claim 15 further
comprising: a draft condition data acquisition means for acquiring
draft condition data that indicates a draft condition of the one
ship, wherein the ship characteristic data acquisition means
acquires ship characteristic data that indicates characteristics
pertaining to navigation of the one ship in the draft condition
indicated by the draft condition data.
17. The data-processing device according to claim 15, wherein the
wind/wave state data acquisition means acquires two or more items
of the wind/wave state data, the relationship data generation means
generates relationship data pertaining to the two or more items of
the wind/wave state data, the data processing device comprises a
graph data generation means that generates graph data that
illustrates a graph that represents a relationship between two or
more of the rotation speed indicator, the fuel consumption
indicator, the ship speed indicator, the load indicator and the
navigation efficiency indicator indicated by the relationship data
corresponding to each of the two or more items of the wind/wave
state data is provided, and the output means outputs the graph
data.
18. The data-processing device according to claim 17, wherein the
graph data generation means generates graph data that indicates the
graph, which illustrates a range in which the propulsion device of
the one ship can be used safely under the wind and/or wave state
indicated by the wind/wave state data.
19. The data-processing device according to claim 15 further
comprising: a rotation speed indication data acquisition means for
acquiring rotation speed indication data that indicates a speed
indicator that indicates whether the rotation speed of the
propeller that drives the one ship is fast or slow, and an
indication data generation means for generating indication data
that indicates any of the fuel consumption indicator, ship speed
indicator, load indicator or navigation efficiency indicator
corresponding to the rotation speed indicated by the rotation speed
indication data in accordance with the relationship data are
provided, wherein the output means outputs the indication data or
data generated using the indication data.
20. The data-processing device according to claim 19, wherein the
wind/wave state data acquisition means acquires two or more items
of the wind/wave state data, and the indication data generation
means calculates the probability of occurrence of the wind and/or
wave state indicated by the two or more items of the wind/wave
state data and generates data that indicates the probability of
occurrence of any of the fuel consumption indicator, ship speed
indicator, load indicator or navigation efficiency indicator on the
basis of said probability of occurrence.
21. The data-processing device according to claim 15 further
comprising: a fuel consumption indication data acquisition means
for acquiring fuel consumption indication data that indicates a
fuel consumption indicator that indicates the level of the fuel
consumption, which is the amount of fuel consumed per unit time or
per unit navigation distance by the one ship, and an indication
data generation means for generating indication data that indicates
any of the rotation speed indicator, ship speed indicator, load
indicator or navigation efficiency indicator corresponding to the
fuel consumption indicator indicated by the fuel consumption
indication data in accordance with the relationship data are
provided, wherein the output means outputs the indication data or
data generated using the indication data.
22. The data-processing device according to claim 21, wherein the
wind/wave state data acquisition means acquires two or more items
of the wind/wave state data, and the indication data generation
means calculates the probability of occurrence of the wind and/or
wave state indicated by the two or more items of the wind/wave
state data and generates data that indicates the probability of
occurrence of any of the rotation speed indicator, ship speed
indicator, load indicator or navigation efficiency indicator on the
basis of said probability of occurrence.
23. The data-processing device according to claim 15 further
comprising: a ship speed indication data acquisition means for
acquiring ship speed indication data that indicates a ship speed
indicator that indicates the level of the navigation speed of the
one ship, and an indication data generation means for generating
indication data that indicates any of the fuel consumption
indicator, rotation speed indicator, load indicator or navigation
efficiency indicator corresponding to the ship speed indicator
indicated by the ship speed indication data in accordance with the
relationship data are provided, wherein the output means outputs
the indication data or data generated using the indication
data.
24. The data-processing device according to claim 23, wherein the
wind/wave state data acquisition means acquires two or more of the
wind/wave state data, and the indication data generation means
calculates the probability of occurrence of the wind and/or wave
state indicated by the two of more of the wind/wave state data and
generates data that indicates the probability of occurrence of any
of the fuel consumption indicator, rotation speed indicator, load
indicator or navigation efficiency indicator on the basis of said
probability of occurrence.
25. The data-processing device according to claim 15 further
comprising: a reference ship characteristic data acquisition means
for acquiring reference ship characteristic data that indicates
characteristics that are used as a reference pertaining to the
navigation of the one ship, an actual ship characteristic data
acquisition means for acquiring actual ship characteristic data
that indicates the actual characteristics of navigation that has
previously been performed by the one ship, and a ship
characteristic data generation means for generating the ship
characteristic data on the basis of the reference ship
characteristic data and the actual ship characteristic data are
provided.
26. A program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium,
the program for causing a computer to execute: a process for
acquiring ship characteristic data that indicates characteristics
pertaining to the navigation of one ship, a process for acquiring
wind/wave state data that indicates the states of wind and wave
received during the navigation of the one ship, a process for
generating, on the basis of the ship characteristic data,
relationship data that indicates the relationship between two or
more indicators from among a rotation speed indicator that
indicates the level of the rotation speed of the propeller that
drives the one ship when the one ship is navigated under the wind
and/or wave state indicated by the wind/wave state data, a fuel
consumption indicator that indicates whether the fuel consumption
which is the amount of fuel consumed by the one ship per unit time
or per unit navigation distance, a ship speed indicator that
indicates the level of the navigation speed of the one ship, a load
indicator that indicates the level of the load on the propulsion
device of the one ship, and a navigation efficiency indicator that
indicates the level of the navigation efficiency of the one ship,
and a process for outputting the relationship data or data
generated using the relationship data.
27. A computer-readable recording medium that continuously records
a program for causing a computer to execute: a process for
acquiring ship characteristic data that indicates characteristics
pertaining to the navigation of one ship, a process for acquiring
wind/wave state data that indicates the states of wind and wave
received during the navigation of the one ship, a process for
generating, on the basis of the ship characteristic data,
relationship data that indicates the relationship between two or
more indicators from among a rotation speed indicator that
indicates the level of the rotation speed of the propeller that
drives the one ship when the one ship is navigated under the wind
and/or wave state indicated by the wind/wave state data, a fuel
consumption indicator that indicates whether the fuel consumption
which is the amount of fuel consumed by the one ship per unit time
or per unit navigation distance, a ship speed indicator that
indicates the level of the navigation speed of the one ship, a load
indicator that indicates the level of the load on the propulsion
device of the one ship, and a navigation efficiency indicator that
indicates the level of the navigation efficiency of the one ship,
and a process for outputting the relationship data or data
generated using the relationship data.
28. A data-processing method comprising: a step in which a
data-processing device acquires ship characteristic data that
indicates characteristics pertaining to the navigation of one ship,
a step in which the data-processing device acquires wind/wave state
data that indicates wind and wave states received by the one ship
during navigation, a step in which the data-processing device
generates, on the basis of the ship characteristic data,
relationship data that indicates the relationship between two or
more indicators from among a rotation speed indicator that
indicates the level of the rotation speed of the propeller that
drives the one ship when the one ship is navigated under the wind
and/or wave state indicated by the wind/wave state data, a fuel
consumption indicator that indicates whether the fuel consumption
is the amount of fuel consumed by the one ship per unit time or per
unit navigation distance, a ship speed indicator that indicates the
level of the navigation speed of the one ship, a load indicator
that indicates the level of the load on the propulsion device of
the one ship, and a navigation efficiency indicator that indicates
the level of the navigation efficiency of the one ship, and a step
in which the data-processing device outputs the relationship data
or data generated using the relationship data.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention pertains to a technology for
generating data that indicates navigation performance of a
ship.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In the navigation of a ship, a time of arrival at a
destination and an amount of fuel consumed are affected mainly by
selection of a navigation route and selection of a number of
rotations (simply referred to as "rotation speed" in the present
application) of a propeller per unit time at each point during
navigation. Accordingly, the shipping manager, ship operator or the
like of a ship requires a technology by which a ship arrives at a
destination at a desired time, and selection of navigation route or
number of rotations of the propeller for minimizing fuel
consumption is supported.
[0003] As an example of a technology that meets the needs of the
foregoing requirement, JP2013-107488A suggests a technique in which
a navigation route having the lowest fuel consumption is
automatically calculated as the optimum navigation route on the
basis of the marine weather around the time of ship navigation and
individual ship performance data that indicates individual ship
performance; namely, smooth underwater performance, in-ocean-wave
performance and in-wind performance of a ship.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The navigation performance of a ship is basically summarized
into a relationship between the rotation speed of the propeller
that drives the ship and navigation speed, a relationship between
the rotation speed of the propeller and fuel consumption, or a
relationship between the navigation speed obtained via the rotation
speed of the propeller and fuel consumption. Data indicating the
aforementioned relationships become necessary when selecting the
rotation speed of the propeller in the navigation of a ship.
[0005] In the present application, fuel consumption signifies the
amount of fuel consumed by a ship per unit time or per unit
navigation distance. In the following explanation, as an example,
fuel consumption is set to signify an amount of fuel consumed per
unit time such as ton/day, but fuel consumption signifying an
amount of fuel consumed per unit navigation distance such as
ton/mile may also be adopted.
[0006] Conventionally, as data indicating the navigation
performance of a ship, data indicating a relationship between
rotation speed of a propeller and navigation speed, a relationship
between rotation speed of the propeller and main-engine horse power
and a relationship between main-engine horse power and fuel
consumption is provided by ship manufacturers and the like. This
data is measurement data obtained at the time of a test run or
performance data obtained in ideal conditions without wind or
waves.
[0007] Data provided by ship manufacturers and the like such as
that described above indicates the navigation performance of a ship
under limited conditions. The draft or trim of a ship changes in
accordance with loading state, and in navigation in an actual sea
area in which wind and wave states vary, data provided by ship
manufacturers and the like cannot be used as is. Accordingly,
concerning actual navigation of a ship, when a shipping manager
plans an operation schedule or a ship operator determines a
rotation speed of the propeller, data provided by the ship
manufacturers and the like is interpreted and amended on the basis
of experience and the like. Such human amendments are not always
sufficiently accurate, and impose a great burden on shipping
managers, ship operators or the like.
[0008] In view of matters such as those described above, the
purpose of the present invention is to provide data that indicates
navigation performance of a ship that can be used in navigation in
an actual sea area in which the state of draft and trim or wind and
waves vary.
[0009] To solve the foregoing problem, the present invention
provides a data-processing device comprising a ship characteristic
data acquisition means for acquiring ship characteristic data that
indicates characteristics pertaining to the navigation of one ship,
a wind/wave state data acquisition means for acquiring wind/wave
state data that indicates the state of wind and/or waves the one
ship receives during navigation, a relationship data generation
means for generating, on the basis of the ship characteristic data,
relationship data that indicates the relationship between two or
more indicators from among a rotation speed indicator that
indicates the level of the rotation speed of the propeller that
drives the one ship when the one ship is navigated under the wind
and/or wave state indicated by the wind/wave state data, a fuel
consumption indicator that indicates whether the fuel consumption
is the amount of fuel consumed by the one ship per unit time or per
unit navigation distance, a ship speed indicator that indicates the
level of the navigation speed of the one ship, a load indicator
that indicates the level of the load on the propulsion device of
the one ship, and a navigation efficiency indicator that indicates
the level of the navigation efficiency of the one ship, and an
output means for outputting the relationship data or data generated
using the relationship data.
[0010] The abovementioned data-processing device may be configured
such that the data processing device comprises a draft condition
data acquisition means for acquiring draft condition data that
indicates a draft condition of the one ship, wherein the ship
characteristic data acquisition means acquires ship characteristic
data that indicates characteristics pertaining to navigation of the
one ship in the draft condition indicated by the draft condition
data.
[0011] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the wind/wave state data acquisition means acquires two or more
items of the wind/wave state data, the relationship data generation
means generates relationship data pertaining to the two or more
items of the wind/wave state data, the data processing device
comprises a graph data generation means that generates graph data
that illustrates a graph that represents a relationship between two
or more of the rotation speed indicator, the fuel consumption
indicator, the ship speed indicator, the load indicator and the
navigation efficiency indicator indicated by the relationship data
corresponding to each of the two or more items of the wind/wave
state data is provided, and the output means outputs the graph
data.
[0012] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the graph data generation means generates graph data that indicates
the graph, which illustrates a range in which the propulsion device
of the one ship can be used safely under the wind and/or wave state
indicated by the wind/wave state data.
[0013] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the data-processing device comprises a rotation speed indication
data acquisition means for acquiring rotation speed indication data
that indicates a speed indicator that indicates whether the
rotation speed of the propeller that drives the one ship is fast or
slow, and an indication data generation means for generating
indication data that indicates any of the fuel consumption
indicator, ship speed indicator, load indicator or navigation
efficiency indicator corresponding to the rotation speed indicated
by the rotation speed indication data in accordance with the
relationship data are provided, wherein the output means outputs
the indication data or data generated using the indication
data.
[0014] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the wind/wave state data acquisition means acquires two or more
items of the wind/wave state data, and the indication data
generation means calculates the probability of occurrence of the
wind and/or wave state indicated by the two or more items of the
wind/wave state data and generates data that indicates the
probability of occurrence of any of the fuel consumption indicator,
ship speed indicator, load indicator or navigation efficiency
indicator on the basis of said probability of occurrence.
[0015] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the data-processing device comprises a fuel consumption indication
data acquisition means for acquiring fuel consumption indication
data that indicates a fuel consumption indicator that indicates the
level of the fuel consumption, which is the amount of fuel consumed
per unit time or per unit navigation distance by the one ship, and
an indication data generation means for generating indication data
that indicates any of the rotation speed indicator, ship speed
indicator, load indicator or navigation efficiency indicator
corresponding to the fuel consumption indicator indicated by the
fuel consumption indication data in accordance with the
relationship data are provided, wherein the output means outputs
the indication data or data generated using the indication
data.
[0016] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the data-processing device comprises the wind/wave state data
acquisition means acquires two or more items of the wind/wave state
data, and the indication data generation means calculates the
probability of occurrence of the wind and/or wave state indicated
by the two or more items of the wind/wave state data and generates
data that indicates the probability of occurrence of any of the
rotation speed indicator, ship speed indicator, load indicator or
navigation efficiency indicator on the basis of said probability of
occurrence.
[0017] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the data-processing device comprises a ship speed indication data
acquisition means for acquiring ship speed indication data that
indicates a ship speed indicator that indicates the level of the
navigation speed of the one ship, and an indication data generation
means for generating indication data that indicates any of the fuel
consumption indicator, rotation speed indicator, load indicator or
navigation efficiency indicator corresponding to the ship speed
indicator indicated by the ship speed indication data in accordance
with the relationship data are provided, wherein the output means
outputs the indication data or data generated using the indication
data.
[0018] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the wind/wave state data acquisition means acquires two or more of
the wind/wave state data, and the indication data generation means
calculates the probability of occurrence of the wind and/or wave
state indicated by the two of more of the wind/wave state data and
generates data that indicates the probability of occurrence of any
of the fuel consumption indicator, rotation speed indicator, load
indicator or navigation efficiency indicator on the basis of said
probability of occurrence.
[0019] The data-processing device may also be configured such that
the data-processing device comprises a reference ship
characteristic data acquisition means for acquiring reference ship
characteristic data that indicates characteristics that are used as
a reference pertaining to the navigation of the one ship, an actual
ship characteristic data acquisition means for acquiring actual
ship characteristic data that indicates the actual characteristics
of navigation that has previously been performed by the one ship,
and a ship characteristic data generation means for generating the
ship characteristic data on the basis of the reference ship
characteristic data and the actual ship characteristic data are
provided.
[0020] Further, the present invention provides a program for
causing a computer to execute a process for acquiring ship
characteristic data that indicates characteristics pertaining to
the navigation of one ship, a process for acquiring wind/wave state
data that indicates the states of wind and wave received during the
navigation of the one ship, a process for generating, on the basis
of the ship characteristic data, relationship data that indicates
the relationship between two or more indicators from among a
rotation speed indicator that indicates the level of the rotation
speed of the propeller that drives the one ship when the one ship
is navigated under the wind and/or wave state indicated by the
wind/wave state data, a fuel consumption indicator that indicates
whether the fuel consumption which is the amount of fuel consumed
by the one ship per unit time or per unit navigation distance, a
ship speed indicator that indicates the level of the navigation
speed of the one ship, a load indicator that indicates the level of
the load on the propulsion device of the one ship, and a navigation
efficiency indicator that indicates the level of the navigation
efficiency of the one ship, and a process for outputting the
relationship data or data generated using the relationship
data.
[0021] The present invention also provides a computer-readable
recording medium that continuously records a program for causing a
computer to execute a process for acquiring ship characteristic
data that indicates characteristics pertaining to the navigation of
one ship, a process for acquiring wind/wave state data that
indicates the states of wind and wave received during the
navigation of the one ship, a process for generating, on the basis
of the ship characteristic data, relationship data that indicates
the relationship between two or more indicators from among a
rotation speed indicator that indicates the level of the rotation
speed of the propeller that drives the one ship when the one ship
is navigated under the wind and/or wave state indicated by the
wind/wave state data, a fuel consumption indicator that indicates
whether the fuel consumption which is the amount of fuel consumed
by the one ship per unit time or per unit navigation distance, a
ship speed indicator that indicates the level of the navigation
speed of the one ship, a load indicator that indicates the level of
the load on the propulsion device of the one ship, and a navigation
efficiency indicator that indicates the level of the navigation
efficiency of the one ship, and a process for outputting the
relationship data or data generated using the relationship
data.
[0022] The present invention also provides a data-processing method
comprising a step in which a data-processing device acquires ship
characteristic data that indicates characteristics pertaining to
the navigation of one ship, a step in which the data-processing
device acquires wind/wave state data that indicates wind and wave
states received by the one ship during navigation, a step in which
the data-processing device generates, on the basis of the ship
characteristic data, relationship data that indicates the
relationship between two or more indicators from among a rotation
speed indicator that indicates the level of the rotation speed of
the propeller that drives the one ship when the one ship is
navigated under the wind and/or wave state indicated by the
wind/wave state data, a fuel consumption indicator that indicates
whether the fuel consumption is the amount of fuel consumed by the
one ship per unit time or per unit navigation distance, a ship
speed indicator that indicates the level of the navigation speed of
the one ship, a load indicator that indicates the level of the load
on the propulsion device of the one ship, and a navigation
efficiency indicator that indicates the level of the navigation
efficiency of the one ship, and a step in which the data-processing
device outputs the relationship data or data generated using the
relationship data.
[0023] According to the present invention, data that indicates
performance pertaining to the navigation speed of a ship in an
actual sea area in which the wind or wave states change to various
states or performance pertaining to fuel consumption can be
acquired. Data acquired as such is, for example, output to a
display and read by a shipping manager, ship operator or the like
when establishing a navigation schedule or adjusting the rotation
speed of the propeller, or output to an engine control device of
the ship and used to control the rotation speed of the propeller.
As a result, compared to conventional methods, a navigation that is
more desirable to a shipping manager, ship operator or the like can
be realized.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] [FIG. 1] A drawing illustrating the overall configuration of
a ship performance display system as in one embodiment.
[0025] [FIG. 2] A drawing illustrating the hardware configuration
of a terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0026] [FIG. 3] A drawing illustrating the functional configuration
of the terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0027] [FIG. 4] A drawing illustrating the data configuration of
the reference ship characteristic data stored by the storage means
of the terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0028] [FIG. 5] A drawing illustrating the data configuration of
the actual ship characteristic data stored in the storage means of
the terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0029] [FIG. 6] A drawing illustrating a menu screen displayed on
the terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0030] [FIG. 7] A drawing illustrating a performance display screen
displayed on the terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0031] [FIG. 8] A drawing illustrating a parameter calculation
screen displayed on the terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0032] [FIG. 9] A drawing illustrating a fuel consumption constant
control screen displayed on the terminal device as in one
embodiment.
[0033] [FIG. 10] A drawing illustrating a ship speed constant
control screen displayed on the terminal device as in one
embodiment.
[0034] [FIG. 11] A drawing illustrating a service simulation screen
displayed on the terminal device as in one embodiment.
[0035] [FIG. 12] A drawing illustrating a performance display
screen displayed on the terminal device as in an alternative
example.
[0036] [FIG. 13] A drawing illustrating a service simulation screen
displayed on the terminal device as in an alternative example.
[0037] [FIG. 14] A drawing illustrating the data configuration of a
wind/wave state database stored by the storage means of the
terminal device as in an alternative example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1. Embodiment
[0038] The configuration and operation of a ship performance
display system 1 as in one embodiment of the present invention is
explained hereinafter. FIG. 1 is a drawing that schematically
illustrates the overall configuration of ship performance display
system 1. Ship performance display system 1 is provided with a
terminal device 11-1 operated by a shipping manager, for example, a
terminal device 11-2 that is arranged on a ship 9 and operated by a
ship operator, for example, and a meterologic/hydrographic
information distribution server device 12 that transmits data
pertaining to current or future wind and waves in a sea area
specified in accordance with a transmission request from terminal
device 11-1 or terminal device 11-2 (hereafter referred to as
"wind/wave state data"). Terminal device 11-1 and
meterologic/hydrographic information distribution server device 12
perform mutual data communication via a wired network, for example.
Terminal device 11-2 and meterologic/hydrographic information
distribution server device 12, and terminal device 11-2 and
terminal device 11-1 perform mutual data communication via a
communication satellite 8.
[0039] FIG. 1 exemplifies a state in which ship 9 departs a port A
and navigates through a navigation route R that arrives at a port E
via ports B, C and D.
[0040] Terminal device 11-1 and terminal device 11-2 are basically
provided with the same configuration, and share a large number of
similar operations. Accordingly, when terminal device 11-1 and
terminal device 11-2 are not to be distinguished from one another
hereafter, the terminal devices are collectively referred to as
"terminal device 11." When the shipping manager or the like who is
the user of terminal device 11-1 and ship operator or the like who
is the user of terminal device 11-2 are not to be distinguished
from one another, the shipping manager, ship operator or the like
is simply referred to as a "user."
[0041] The hardware configuration of terminal device 11 is a
general computer provided with a communication means for performing
data communication with other devices. FIG. 2 is a drawing
illustrating the configuration of a computer 10 used as hardware of
terminal device 11.
[0042] Computer 10 is provided with a CPU 101 that performs various
types of operations in accordance with the OS or a program such as
an application program while controlling other configuring parts, a
memory 102 that stores the abovementioned program and various types
of data, a communication interface 103 that performs
transmission/reception of various types of data with other devices,
and an input/output interface 104 that performs input/output of
various types of data with an operation device such as a keyboard
or a mouse, for example, or a display (display device) or the
like.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the functional
configuration of terminal device 11. Terminal device 11 is provided
with, as the functional configuration part, a storage means 111 for
storing various types of data, an acquisition means for acquiring
various types of data from an external device or storage means 111,
a generation means 113 for generating various types of data using
the various types of data acquired by acquisition means 112, and an
output means 114 for outputting the various types of data generated
by generation means 113 (or various types of data generated by
generation means 113 and stored in storage means 111) to an
external device such as a display. That is, computer 10, which is
hardware of terminal device 11, functions as a device provided with
the abovementioned storage means 111, acquisition means 112,
generation means 113 and output means 114 by executing processes
according to the application program for terminal device 11 as in
the present embodiment.
[0044] Acquisition means 112 is provided firstly with a reference
ship characteristic data acquisition means 1121 for acquiring
reference ship characteristic data that indicates characteristics
that serve as a reference pertaining to the navigation of ship 9 by
reading said data from storage means 111. The reference ship
characteristic data is data acquired by performing calculation on
the basis of data such as type of ship, propeller and main engine
pertaining to ship 9, for example. The data may also be data
calculated by performing a simulation in accordance with data
acquired on the basis of an actual ship measurement value, data
acquired from a tank test on a model ship, and CFD (computational
fluid dynamics).
[0045] FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the data configuration of
the reference ship characteristic data stored in storage means 111.
Storage means 111 stores reference ship characteristic data
pertaining to each of a plurality of ships differentiated using a
ship ID (identifier). The reference ship characteristic data is
provided with a structure of a data table provided, as data fields,
with "forward draft" (m), "after draft" (m), "wind direction" (deg.
=degree), "wind speed" (m/sec), "wave direction" (deg.), "wave
height" (m), "wave period" (sec), "rotation speed" (rpm), "ship
speed" (knot), "fuel consumption" (ton/day), "fuel consumption"
(ton/mile), "main engine load" (%) and "slip" (%). The units inside
the brackets indicate the units of data stored in each of the data
fields.
[0046] The main engine indicates the drive engine of the propulsion
device of the ship, and the main engine load (%) is a
representation of the ratio of the load on the main engine with
respect to the entire load as a percentage. The main engine load is
one example of an indicator that indicates the level of the load on
the propulsion device (load indicator) and, for example, another
load indicator such as an indicator that indicates the level of the
load on the propulsion device including an auxiliary engine and the
like may also be used in place of the main engine load.
[0047] The slip (%) is an indicator represented by the below
formula, and is a representation of the difference between the
theoretical travel distance of the ship calculated by multiplying
the rotation speed by the propeller pitch and the actual travel
distance of the ship as a percentage using the theoretical travel
distance of the ship as a reference. Accordingly, the slip is one
example of an indicator that indicates the level of the navigation
efficiency (navigation efficiency indicator), and the larger the
value thereof, the lower the navigation efficiency of the ship.
a. Slip (%)=(1-(ship speed.times.1852)/(rotation speed x propeller
pitch.times.60)).times.100
[0048] Data indicating the state during navigation of ship 9 is
stored in the "forward draft" to "wave period" of the data fields
of the reference ship characteristic data. Hereafter, the data
group stored in said data fields are collectively referred to as
"navigation state data." Data indicating the ship speed when ship 9
is navigated at the rotation speed of the propeller indicated in
the data field "rotation speed" under the state indicated by the
navigation state data of the same data record is stored in the data
field "ship speed" of the reference ship characteristic data. Data
indicating the fuel consumption, main engine load and slip when
ship 9 is navigated at the rotation speed of the propeller
indicated in the data field "rotation speed" under the conditions
indicated by the navigation state data of the same data record is
stored in the data fields "fuel consumption" (ton/day or ton/mile),
"main engine load" and "slip."
[0049] The data record of the reference ship characteristic data is
data corresponding to each of a combination of a representative
value of the forward draft (for example, . . . 7 m, 7.5 m, 8 m, 8.5
m, 9 m, . . . ), representative value of the after draft (for
example, . . . 7 m, 7.5 m, 8 m, 8.5 m, 9 m, . . . ), representative
value of the wind direction (for example, 0 deg., 5 deg., 10 deg. .
. . , 355 deg.), representative value of the wind speed (for
example, 0 m/sec, 1 m/sec, 2 m/sec, . . . ), representative value
of the wave direction (for example, 0 deg., 5 deg., 10 deg. . ..,
355 deg.), representative value of the wave height (for example, 0
m, 0.5 m, 1 m, . . . ), representative value of the wave period
(for example, 0 sec, 1 sec, 2 sec, . . . ), and representative
value of the rotation speed (for example, 10 rpm, 11 rpm, 12 rpm, .
. . ) (hereafter, each of said combinations is referred to as a
"characteristic lattice point"). Accordingly, the data field "ship
speed" stores data indicating the ship speed corresponding to the
characteristic lattice point of the data record thereof, the data
fields "fuel consumption" (ton/day or ton/mile), "main engine load"
and "slip" store data indicating the fuel consumption, main engine
load and slip corresponding to the characteristic lattice point of
the data record thereof.
[0050] Referring again to FIG. 3, explanation of the functional
configuration of terminal device 11 is continued. Acquisition means
112 is provided with an actual ship characteristic data acquisition
means 1122 for acquiring actual ship characteristic data that
indicates the actual characteristics during navigation that has
previously been performed by ship 9, by reading the data from
acquisition means 112. The actual ship characteristic data is data
continuously measured by a variety of measuring devices such as a
draft gauge, wind direction gauge and wind speed gauge during
navigation of the ship 9 or data calculated on the basis of said
data (fuel consumption and the like).
[0051] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the data configuration of
the actual ship characteristic data stored in storage means 111.
The actual ship characteristic data is provided with a structure of
a data table including, as data records, data generated per passing
of a prescribed length of time such as every 10 minutes in ship 9,
for example. The data fields provided by the actual ship
characteristic data are similar to the data fields of the reference
ship characteristic data excluding the addition of a data field
"date and time." This data field "date and time" stores data that
indicates the date and time at which data of the data fields
"forward draft" to slip" is measured (or calculated).
[0052] Referring once again to FIG. 3, explanation of the
functional configuration of terminal device 11 is continued.
Acquisition means 112 is provided with a ship characteristic data
acquisition means 1123 for acquiring ship characteristic data by
reading said data from storage means 111. The ship characteristic
data is data generated by amending the reference ship
characteristic data on the basis of the actual ship characteristic
data, and is data that indicates characteristics that are closer to
the actual characteristics of ship 9 than the characteristics of
ship 9 indicated by the reference ship characteristic data. Since
the data configuration of the ship characteristic data is
equivalent to the data configuration of the reference
characteristic data illustrated in FIG. 4, exemplification thereof
is omitted.
[0053] Acquisition means 112 is further provided with a wind/wave
state data acquisition means 1124 for acquiring wind/wave state
data that indicates the states of wind and wave encountered (or
expected to be encountered) during navigation of ship 9, a draft
condition data acquisition means 1125 for acquiring draft condition
data that indicates the forward draft and after draft during
navigation of ship 9, a rotation speed indication data acquisition
means 1126 for acquiring rotation speed indication data that
indicates the rotation speed during navigation of ship 9, a fuel
consumption data acquisition means 1127 for acquiring fuel
consumption indication data that indicates the fuel consumption
during navigation of ship 9, and a ship speed indication data
acquisition means 1128 for acquiring ship speed indicator data that
indicates the ship speed during navigation of ship 9.
[0054] According to the present embodiment, rotation speed
indication data acquired by rotation speed indication data
acquisition means 1126 is set as data that indicates actual
rotation speed as one example of a rotation speed indicator that
indicates the level of rotation speed, but another indicator that
indicates the level of rotation speed (for example, an indicator
that indicates the level of the speed in 10 stages, 1 to 10) may
also be adopted as the rotation speed indicator in place of the
actual rotation speed. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the
fuel consumption indicator data acquired by fuel consumption data
acquisition means 1127 is set as data that indicates actual fuel
consumption as one example of a fuel consumption indicator that
indicates the level of fuel consumption, but another indicator that
indicates the level of fuel consumption (for example, an indicator
that indicates the level of fuel consumption in 10 stages, 1 to 10)
may also be adopted as the fuel consumption indicator in place of
actual fuel consumption. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the
ship speed indication data acquired by ship speed indication data
acquisition means 1128 is set as data that indicates actual ship
speed as one example of a ship speed indicator that indicates the
level of ship speed, but another indicator that indicates the level
of ship speed (an indicator that indicates the level of ship speed
in 10 stages, 1 to 10) may also be adopted as the ship speed
indicator in place of actual ship speed.
[0055] Generation means 113 is provided firstly with a ship
characteristic data generation means 1131 for generating ship
characteristic data by amending the reference ship characteristic
data (FIG. 4) in accordance with the actual ship characteristic
data (FIG. 5). Ship characteristic data generation means 1131
generates ship characteristic data by amending the reference ship
characteristic data so as to be close to the characteristics
indicated by the actual ship characteristic data in accordance with
an extent to which the ship speed and fuel consumption at the
navigation state and rotation speed indicated by the actual ship
characteristic data deviates from the ship speed and fuel
consumption at the same navigation state and rotation speed
acquired by interpolating the characteristic lattice point
indicated by the reference ship characteristic data, for example.
When doing so, ship characteristic data generation means 1131
reflects the new data included in the actual ship characteristic
data to be greater than the old data by multiplying the weight
corresponding to new or old indicated by the data stored in the
data field "date and time" of the actual ship characteristic data,
for example. As a result, the ship characteristic data becomes data
that indicates characteristics that are closer to the current
characteristics of ship 9, which constantly change due to the
influence of fouling and the like on the hull, propeller and the
like of ship 9.
[0056] Generation means 113 is provided with a relationship data
generation means 1132 for generating relationship data that
indicates the relationship between two or more of rotation speed,
ship speed, fuel consumption, main engine load and slip (hereafter
referred to as "performance parameters") when ship 9 is navigated
under specific navigation conditions. For example, relationship
data generation means 1132 calculates the relationship between wind
direction, wind speed and the like indicated by the wind/wave state
data acquired by wind/wave state data acquisition means 1124, and
rotation speed and ship speed when ship 9 is navigated under
navigation conditions specified by the forward draft and after
draft indicated by the draft state data acquired by the draft
condition data acquisition means 1125, the relationship between
rotation speed and fuel consumption, the relationship between ship
speed and fuel consumption, the relationship between ship speed and
main engine load, the relationship between ship speed and slip, and
the like, by interpolating the ship characteristic data.
Relationship data generation means 1132 generates data that
indicates the relationship between two or more performance
parameters calculated as such as relationship data.
[0057] Further, generation means 113 is provided with a graph data
generation means 1133 for generating graph data that indicates a
graph that exemplifies the relationship between two or more
performance parameters when ship 9 is navigated under specified
navigation conditions in accordance with the relationship data
generated by relationship data generation means 1132.
[0058] Generation means 113 is also provided with a fuel
consumption indication data generation means 1134 for specifying a
fuel consumption corresponding to the rotation speed indicated by
the rotation speed indication data acquired by speed indication
data acquisition means 1126 in accordance with the relationship
data, and generating fuel consumption indication data that
indicates said fuel consumption. Fuel consumption indication data
generation means 1134 also specifies a fuel consumption
corresponding to the ship speed indicated by the ship speed
indication data acquired by ship speed indication data acquisition
means 1128 in accordance with the relationship data, and generates
fuel consumption indication data that indicates said fuel
consumption.
[0059] Generation means 113 is also provided with a rotation speed
indication data generation means 1135 for specifying a rotation
speed corresponding to the fuel consumption indicated by the fuel
consumption indication data acquired by speed indication data
acquisition means 1127, and generating rotation speed indication
data that indicates said rotation speed. Rotation speed indication
data generation means 1135 also specifies a rotation speed
corresponding to the ship speed indicated by the ship speed
indication data acquired by ship speed indication data acquisition
means 1128 in accordance with the relationship data, and generates
rotation speed indication data that indicates said rotation
speed.
[0060] Generation means 113 is also provided with a speed
indication data generation means 1136 for specifying a ship speed
corresponding to the rotation speed indicated by the rotation speed
indication data acquired by speed indication data acquisition means
1125 in accordance with the relationship data, and generating ship
speed indication data that indicates said ship speed. Ship speed
indication data generation means 1136 also specifies a ship speed
corresponding to the fuel consumption indicated by the fuel
consumption indication data acquired by fuel consumption indication
data acquisition means 1127 in accordance with the relationship
data, and generates ship speed indication data that indicates said
ship speed.
[0061] Generation means 113 is also provided with a load indication
data generation means 1137 for specifying a main engine load
corresponding to the rotation speed indicated by the rotation speed
indication data acquired by rotation speed indication data
acquisition means 1126 in accordance with the relationship data,
and generating load indication data that indicates said main engine
load. Load indication data generation means 1137 also specifies a
main engine load corresponding to the fuel consumption indicated by
the fuel consumption indication data acquired by speed indication
data acquisition means 1127 or a main engine load corresponding to
the ship speed indicated by the ship speed indication data acquired
by the ship speed indication data acquisition means 1128 in
accordance with the relationship data, and generates load
indication data that indicates said main engine load.
[0062] Generation means 113 is also provided with a navigation
efficiency indication data generation means 1138 for specifying a
slip corresponding to the rotation speed indicated by the rotation
speed indication data acquired by rotation speed indication data
acquisition means 1126 in accordance with the relationship data,
and generating navigation efficiency indication data that indicates
said slip. Navigation efficiency indication data generation means
1138 also specifies a slip corresponding to the fuel consumption
indicated by the fuel consumption indication data acquired by fuel
consumption indication data acquisition means 1127 or a slip
corresponding to the ship speed indicated by the ship speed
indication data acquired by ship speed indication data acquisition
means 1128 in accordance with the relationship data, and generates
navigation efficiency indication data that indicates said slip.
[0063] The preceding section is an explanation of the functional
configuration of terminal device 11. Next, operation of ship
performance display system 1 provided with the configuration
described above is explained. A user operates terminal device 11
and displays a menu screen for using ship performance display
system 1. FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the menu screen. On the
menu screen, a "performance display" button, "parameter
calculation" button, "fuel consumption constant control" button,
"ship speed constant control" button and "service simulation"
button are arranged as buttons for reading the services provided by
ship performance display system 1.
[0064] If a user performs an operation of selecting the
"performance display" button on the menu screen, terminal device 11
displays a performance display screen such as the screen
illustrated in FIG. 7. The performance display screen is provided
with a region A01 for accepting input of various parameters by a
user, a region A02 for displaying a plurality of typical wind/wave
state parameter groups that are set in advance, a region A03 for
displaying a graph that indicates the performance of ship 9, and a
region A04 for displaying buttons for specifying the performance
parameters on the vertical axis of the graph displayed in region
A03.
[0065] An input box for the ship ID of ship 9, an input box for the
forward draft, an input box for the after draft, and an input box
for the wind direction and wave direction are arranged in region
A01. A user specifies a ship for which to perform performance
display in region A03 while specifying the wind direction and wave
direction from the draft state and wind/wave state of said ship by
inputting data to the input boxes arranged in region A01. The
present embodiment is configured so as not to make possible
individual specification of wind direction and wave direction so as
to minimize an amount of data required to be input by a user, but a
configuration in which individual specification is possible may
also be adopted.
[0066] A drawing illustrating whether the angle when specifying the
wind direction and wave direction corresponds to the direction
relating to the ship or the like is displayed below region A01.
[0067] Region A02 displays a combination of wind speed, wave height
and wave period that indicates the wind/wave state (excluding wind
direction and wave height) corresponding to each of 0, 1, 2, . . .
on the Beaufort scale (displayed as "BF" in the graph). Parameters
corresponding to said Beaufort scale are set in terminal device 11
in advance, and cannot be edited by a user in the present
embodiment, but a configuration that allows editing by a user may
also be adopted.
[0068] Region A03 simultaneously displays a graph corresponding to
each of 6 Beaufort states displayed in region A02 and a graph
corresponding to each of the representative values of the rotation
speed. Firstly, the graph indicated by a curved line that curves up
to the right coded with codes BF0 to BF8 is a graph corresponding
to each of the Beaufort states, and indicates the relationship
between the ship speed (horizontal axis) and fuel consumption
(vertical axis) when ship 9 that is in a draft state specified by a
user in region Al is navigated in a state in which the wind and
waves of the corresponding Beaufort are received in a direction
specified by a used in region A01. FIG. 7 illustrates an example in
which fuel consumption (ton/day) is selected as the performance
parameter of the vertical axis, but a user can change the vertical
axis to fuel consumption (ton/mile), main engine load or slip by
operating the buttons in region A04.
[0069] For example, according to the graph exemplified in FIG. 7,
it can be understood that, if ship 9 that is in a draft state
specified in region A01 is navigated at a ship speed of 15 knots
when wind and waves in the direction specified in region A01 are
received at a strength of, for example, 5 on the Beaufort scale,
the fuel consumption is approximately 75 ton/day.
[0070] Next, the graph indicated by a plurality of approximately
straight lines that lower to the right in region A03 is a graph
corresponding to each of the representative values (in the example
in FIG. 7, the rotation speed per 1 rpm in a range of 45 to 85
rpm), and the intersection of the graph that ascends to the right
and the graph that descends to the right indicates the ship speed
and fuel consumption acquired when a service is carried out at a
rotation speed that corresponds to the graph that descends to the
left in the Beaufort corresponding to the graph that ascends to the
right. For example, According to the graph exemplified in FIG. 7,
it can be understood that, when a service of ship 9 that is in a
draft state specified in region A01 is carried out at a rotation
speed of 60 rpm in a state in which the wind and waves in the
direction specified in region A01 is received at a strength of, for
example, 5 on the Beaufort scale, the ship speed is approximately
13.8 knots, and the fuel consumption is approximately 62
ton/day.
[0071] Further, a boundary line L based on the engine
characteristics of ship 9 is indicated in region A03. The region to
the inside of boundary line L signifies that the engine can be used
safely, and the region to the outside of boundary line L signifies
that the engine is in a torque rich state, surging state or the
like and cannot be used safely.
[0072] As described above, a user can intuitively know what kind of
performance ship 9 indicates under various wind and wave states
from the graph by only specifying draft state and wind direction
and wave direction on the performance display screen. Further, a
user can easily know the combination range of ship speed and fuel
consumption that can be realized or range of rotation speed that
can be achieved under the specified draft state and wind direction
and wave direction.
[0073] As one example of the purpose of using the performance
display screen, performing performance evaluation of a ship on the
basis of data displayed on the performance display screen can be
considered. In a conventional performance evaluation of a ship,
performance is evaluated under one specific navigation state such
as performance of a ship (relationship between rotation speed and
ship speed, relationship between rotation speed and fuel
consumption and the like) in a no wind and no wave state (Beaufort
0). With respect to this, the performance display screen displays
performances under a different wind/wave state. Accordingly, more
detailed performance evaluation of a ship such as a ship that
indicates high performance even in rough weather becomes possible.
The preceding section is an explanation of the service provided to
a user on the performance display screen.
[0074] On the menu screen (FIG. 6), if a user performs an operation
of selecting the "parameter calculation" button, terminal device 11
displays a parameter calculation screen such as the screen
illustrated in FIG. 8. The parameter calculation screen is provided
with a region A11 in which input boxes for a user to input a ship
ID, various parameters indicating navigation state and navigation
distance are arranged, a region A12 in which a graph that displays
each of the relationship between rotation speed and ship speed and
the relationship between rotation speed and fuel consumption when
ship 9 is navigated under the navigation conditions specified in
region A11 is arranged, a region A13 in which input boxes for a
user to input any of the rotation speed, fuel consumption, ship
speed and navigation time is arranged, and a region A14 in which a
box for displaying the estimated value of the amount of fuel
consumed when navigation is performed in accordance with the
conditions input by a user in regions A11 and A13 is arranged.
[0075] A user inputs each parameter that indicates the ship ID and
navigation state, and navigation distance in each of the input
boxes arranged in region A11. For example, when a user wishes to
have information on the amount of fuel consumed and the like of a
navigation from port A to port B, the user accesses
meterologic/hydrographic information distribution server device 12
using terminal device 11, for example, displays the predicted
values of the wind and wave state in the sea area between port A
and port B at the date and time at which navigation is planned, and
inputs said predicted values in the corresponding input boxes in
region A11 of the parameter calculation screen. The user researches
the distance between port A and port B and inputs the distance to
the corresponding input box in region A11 in the same manner.
[0076] If a user subsequently selects the "graph display" button
arranged in region A12, the graph displayed in region A12 becomes
updated to a graph that indicates the relationship between rotation
speed and ship speed, and the relationship between the rotation
speed and fuel consumption when ship 9 is navigated under the
navigation conditions specified by the user in region A11.
[0077] Then, if a user, for example, inputs the rotation speed in
the top input box and selects the "OK" button to the right thereof
in region A13, the fuel consumption and ship speed corresponding to
the rotation speed specified by the user are displayed in the
second and third boxes in region A13 in accordance with the
relationship between rotation speed and ship speed indicated in the
graph in region A12. Further, the navigation time calculated on the
basis of the navigation distance specified in region A11 and ship
speed displayed in the third box in region A13 are displayed in the
fourth box in region A13.
[0078] Furthermore, the amount of fuel consumed calculated on the
basis of the fuel consumption displayed in the second box and
navigation time displayed in the fourth box in region A13 are
displayed in a box in region A14.
[0079] A user is able to display other parameters that were not
input in region A13 and the amount of fuel consumed by inputting
any of the fuel consumption, ship speed and navigation time in
place of specifying the rotation speed as described above in region
A13. Operation when said parameters are displayed is similar to the
matter described above pertaining to when the rotation speed is
specified.
[0080] As described above, a user can intuitively know the
relationship between rotation speed and ship speed, and the
relationship between rotation speed and fuel consumption when ship
9 is navigated under specified navigation conditions from a graph
by specifying the navigation conditions on the parameter
calculation screen. The user can also know the parameters that were
not specified by specifying any of the rotation speed, fuel
consumption, ship speed and navigation time. Further, the user can
know the amount of fuel consumed required for navigation by
specifying any of the rotation speed, fuel consumption, ship speed
and navigation time.
[0081] The parameter calculation screen is useful when, for
example, a shipping manager establishes a navigation schedule
whilst confirming the amount of fuel consumed required for
navigation in a specific section, when a ship operator wishes to
know the rotation speed that should be set for ship 9 for ship 9 to
arrive at a destination in accordance with the navigation schedule,
or the like. The preceding section is an explanation of the service
provided to a user on the parameter calculation screen.
[0082] If a user performs an operation of selecting the "fuel
consumption constant control" button on the menu screen (FIG. 6),
terminal device 11 displays a fuel consumption constant control
screen such as the screen illustrated in FIG. 9. The fuel
consumption constant control screen is provided with a region A21
in which input boxes for a user to input the ship ID and target
fuel consumption are arranged, a region A22 in which boxes for
displaying the actual value of various types of parameters that
indicate the current navigation state measured by various types of
measuring devices provided on ship 9 are arranged, a region A23 in
which a graph that indicates the relationship between rotation
speed and fuel consumption when ship 9 is navigated under the
navigation conditions displayed in region A22 is arranged, and a
region A24 in which a box for displaying the rotation speed for
achieving the target fuel consumption input by a user in region A21
as a target rotation speed in accordance with the relationship
between rotation speed and fuel consumption indicated by the graph
displayed in region A23 is arranged.
[0083] Region A23 exemplifies the target fuel consumption specified
in region A21 and the target rotation speed displayed in region
A24.
[0084] As described above, a user can know the rotation speed for
realizing a target fuel consumption under the navigation conditions
ship 9 is currently encountering (target rotation speed) by
specifying the target fuel consumption on the fuel consumption
constant control screen. Accordingly, for example, a ship operator
can easily perform fuel consumption constant navigation by
performing an operation on ship 9 so as to match the actual
rotation speed of ship 9 to the target rotation speed displayed on
the fuel consumption constant control screen.
[0085] Further, a configuration may also be adopted in which, for
example, data that indicates the target rotation speed (rotation
speed indication data) is output from terminal device 11-2 to the
engine control device of ship 9, and the engine control device
controls the engine so as to match the rotation speed to the target
rotation speed input from terminal device 11-2. In such a case,
driving of the engine of ship 9 is automatically controlled in
accordance with the rotation speed indication data output from
terminal device 11-2.
[0086] A configuration in which the target rotation speed is
amended in the direction of reduction of deviation when a state in
which the target fuel consumption specified in region A21 of the
fuel consumption constant control screen and the actual measured
fuel consumption (the fuel consumption displayed in region A22)
deviate continues, for example, for a prescribed length of time or
longer may also be adopted. Specifically, a configuration in which,
when the target fuel consumption is set to 100 ton/day and the
actual value (average value) of fuel consumption in a past
prescribed period (for example, 30 minutes) calculated from an
actual measured value is 110 ton/day, terminal device 11 performs a
process of reducing the target rotation speed from 55 rpm to 53
rpm, for example. The preceding section is an explanation of the
service provided on the fuel consumption constant control
screen.
[0087] If a user performs an operation of selecting the "ship speed
constant control" button on the menu screen (FIG. 6), the terminal
device displays a ship speed constant control screen such as the
screen illustrated in FIG. 10. The ship speed constant control
screen is the same as the fuel consumption constant control screen
(FIG. 9) excluding a feature in which the target ship speed is set
by a user in place of the target fuel consumption in region A31,
and a feature in which the graph displayed in region A33 indicates
the relationship between rotation speed and ship speed rather than
the relationship between rotation speed and fuel consumption.
[0088] Since the method for operating and using the ship speed
constant control screen is similar to the matter described above
pertaining to the fuel consumption constant control screen
excluding a feature in which fuel consumption is replaced with ship
speed, explanation thereof is omitted.
[0089] A user can know the rotation speed for realizing the target
ship speed (target rotation speed) under the navigation conditions
currently encountered by ship 9 by specifying the target ship speed
on the ship speed constant control screen. Accordingly, for
example, a ship operator can easily perform ship speed constant
navigation by performing an operation on ship 9 so as to match the
actual rotation speed of ship 9 to the target rotation speed
displayed on the ship speed constant control screen.
[0090] Further, a configuration in which driving of the engine of
ship 9 is automatically controlled similarly to the case of the
fuel consumption constant control screen by, for example,
outputting data that indicates the target rotation speed (rotation
speed indication data) from terminal device 11-2 to the engine
control device of ship 9 may also be adopted.
[0091] Furthermore, the feature wherein a configuration so as to
amend the target rotation speed in the direction that reduces
deviation when the target ship speed and actual measured ship speed
deviate may be adopted is similar to the case of the fuel
consumption constant control screen. The preceding section is an
explanation of the service provided on the ship speed constant
control screen.
[0092] If a user performs an operation of selecting the "service
simulation" button on the menu screen (FIG. 6), terminal device 11
displays a service simulation screen such as the screen illustrated
in FIG. 11. A user such as a shipping manager can display the
estimated value of the amount of fuel consumed in the entire
navigation on the service simulation screen by specifying the
navigation schedule that navigates via a plurality of ports and the
draft state of ship 9 during navigation between each of the
ports.
[0093] The service simulation screen is provided with a region A41
in which an input box for a user to input a ship ID is arranged, a
region A42 for a user to input a variety of parameters pertaining
to the navigation schedule (distances between ports, time of
arrival and time of departure at each of the ports) and a parameter
pertaining to the draft state during navigation between each of the
ports (forward draft and after draft), a region A43 for displaying
the various parameters such as wind direction and wind speed
indicated by the wind/wave state data that terminal device 11 has
acquired from meterologic/hydrographic information distribution
server device 12 in accordance with the data that has been input in
region A42, a region A44 for displaying the ship speed, rotation
speed and fuel consumption calculated on the basis of the data
input in region A42 and the data displayed in region A43, and a
region A45 in which a box for displaying the estimated value of the
amount of fuel consumed during the entire navigation when
navigation is performed at the ship speed and fuel consumption
displayed in region A44 is arranged.
[0094] Terminal device 11 requests wind/wave state data that
indicates the wind/wave state in a section navigation route and
navigation time zone to meterologic/hydrographic information
distribution server device 12 for each of the section navigation
routes between the ports on the basis of the time of departure and
time of arrival input by a user in region A42, and displays various
parameters that indicate the wind and wave state indicated by the
wind/wave state data transmitted from meterologic/hydrographic
information distribution server device 12 as a response to the
request (wind direction, wind speed and the like) in the
corresponding section of region A43. Then, terminal device 11
generates relationship data that indicates the relationship between
rotation speed and ship speed and the relationship between rotation
speed and fuel consumption when ship 9 is navigated under the
navigation conditions specified by the draft state input by a user
in region A42 and the wind/wave state displayed in region A43 for
each of the section navigation routes between the ports.
[0095] Next, terminal device 11 calculates the ship speed during
navigation of section navigation routes on the basis of the
distance between the ports, time of departure from a port and time
of arrival at a port input in region A42 by a user for each of the
section navigation routes between ports, and displays the ship
speed in the ship speed section of region A44. Then, terminal
device 11 specifies the rotation speed corresponding to the ship
speed displayed in region A44 and the fuel consumption
corresponding to said rotation speed in accordance with
relationship data generated previously for each of the section
navigation routes between the ports, and displays the specified
rotation speed and fuel consumption in the corresponding section of
region A44. Further, terminal device 11 estimates the amount of
fuel consumed per section navigation route by multiplying the
navigation time specified by the time of departure from a port and
time of arrival at a port input by a user in region A42 by the fuel
consumption displayed in region A44 for each of the section
navigation routes between ports, and estimates the amount of fuel
consumed for the entire navigation by summing up the amounts of
said fuel consumption. The thus estimated amount of fuel consumed
for the entire navigation is displayed in the box in region
A45.
[0096] As described above, a user can know the estimated value of
amount of fuel consumed required by ship 9 for the entire
navigation (the amount of fuel consumed that reflects the influence
of the wind and wave state that ship 9 is predicted to encounter
during navigation) by specifying the navigation schedule and draft
state on the service simulation screen. Accordingly, for example, a
shipping manager can adjust the navigation schedule whilst
confirming, at any time, the estimated value of the amount of fuel
consumed when navigation is performed in accordance with the
navigation schedule after adjustment has been made on the service
simulation screen. The preceding section is an explanation of the
service provided on the service simulation screen.
[0097] As described above, since ship performance display system 1
displays or otherwise notifies the navigation performance of a ship
under various navigation conditions specified by a user as
relationships between a plurality of performance parameters, the
user can accurately know the performance of the ship in an actual
sea area, as well as being able easily to establish the navigation
schedule or operate the ship in accordance with information such as
fuel consumption, ship speed, rotation speed, main engine load and
slip provided by ship performance display system 1 using said
relationships.
Modified Examples
[0098] The embodiment described above may be modified into various
embodiments within the scope of the technical ideas of the present
invention. The modified examples are indicated below.
[0099] In the embodiment described above, the relationships between
performance parameters when a ship is navigated in a wind and wave
state corresponding to Beaufort states set in advance are displayed
on a graph (FIG. 7) as a performance display screen. In addition to
or in place of this, a performance display screen that displays the
relationships between performance parameters corresponding to the
wind and wave states specified separately by a user in terminal
device 11, for example, may be provided.
[0100] FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating the performance display
screen as in an alternative example such as the example described
above. Input boxes for wind direction and wave direction for making
individual input possible are provided in region A51 of the
performance display screen exemplified in FIG. 12 in addition to
the wind direction and wave direction that could be input as one
parameter on the performance display screen exemplified in FIG. 7.
Input boxes that make possible individual input of wind speed, wave
height and wave period that could not be input by a user in the
performance display screen exemplified in FIG. 7 due to being
specified by the Beaufort states are also provided in region
A51.
[0101] A user can display a graph that indicates the relationships
between performance parameters corresponding to the parameters in
region A53 by operating the "display" button after inputting each
of the parameters in the input boxes in region A51. In the graph
displayed in region A53, line B indicates the relationship between
performance parameters in a Beaufort 0 state, and line C indicates
the relationship between parameters when navigation is performed in
the wind and wave states specified in region A51.
[0102] The performance display screen exemplified in FIG. 12 is
also provided with a function for estimating the amount of fuel
consumed. If a user operates the "calculation" button after
inputting data in the "navigation distance" input box and inputting
data in any one of the "navigation time" to "fuel consumption"
input boxes within region A52, terminal device 11 specifies data
corresponding to the input boxes in which data was not input by the
user in region A52 in accordance with the relationship data
generated according to the parameters input in region A51, and
displays the data thereof. For example, if a user operates the
"calculation" button after inputting data in the "navigation
distance" input box and the "navigation time" input box, the ship
speed, rotation speed and fuel consumption when navigation is
performed for a specified navigation distance in a specified
navigation time under the conditions input in region A51 is
displayed in the corresponding input boxes.
[0103] If a user operates the "calculation button," terminal device
calculates the amount of fuel consumed using the data displayed in
the "navigation time" input box and the "fuel consumption" input
box in region A52, for example, and displays the calculated result
in an "amount of fuel consumed" text box below region A52.
[0104] As such, a user can individually specify the wind and wave
states on the performance display screen exemplified in FIG. 12 and
intuitively know the relationships between performance parameters
during navigation of a ship for said wind and wave states. A user
can also easily know the estimated value of the amount of fuel
consumption the ship requires for navigation for the individually
specified wind and wave states.
[0105] (2) In the service simulation screen of the embodiment
described above, wind/wave state data that indicates the wind and
wave state in a time zone specified by the data input in the "time"
section by a user on a navigation route specified by the data input
in a "port name" section by a user is used. This wind/wave state
data is data that terminal device 11 acquires from
meteorologic/hydrographic information distribution server device
12, and usually indicates the estimated value of a parameter that
indicates a future wind and wave state. In addition to or in place
of this, a service simulation screen that presents ship speed,
rotation speed, fuel consumption, navigation time, amount of fuel
consumed and the like estimated using the wind/wave state data that
indicates past wind and wave states may be provided to a user.
[0106] FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating the service simulation
screen as in an alternative example such as the example described
above. FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating the data configuration of
the wind/wave state database stored in terminal device 11, for
example, to generate data that is presented in the service
simulation screen illustrated in FIG. 13. As illustrated in FIG.
14, wind/wave state data that indicates the wind and wave state
such as wind direction, wind speed, wave direction, wave height and
wave period in a specific sea area at a specific date and time in
the past is recorded in the wind/wave state database for several
preceding years, for example. The wind/wave state data recorded in
the wind/wave state database may be, for example, data that
indicates actual measured values on actual individual dates and
times and sea areas, or data that indicates estimated values
provided by meteorologic/hydrographic information distribution
server device 12 in the past.
[0107] In the service simulation screen exemplified in FIG. 13, a
user inputs the forward draft and after draft in the input boxes in
region A61, and then inputs a period for extracting the wind/wave
state data to be used. Then, if the user inputs data in the "port
name" section of the table in region A62, the shortest distance
between the ports that have been input is automatically displayed
in the "distance" section. A user may arbitrarily input data in the
"distance" section. Then, if a user inputs data in the "ship speed"
section, "rotation speed" section or "fuel consumption" section of
the table and operates the "calculation" button, a performance
parameter corresponding to the sections of the table in which data
has not been input by the user is automatically estimated by
terminal device 11 and displayed. The estimated value of the ship
speed, rotation speed, fuel consumption, navigation time and amount
of fuel consumed for the entire navigation is automatically
estimated by terminal device 11 in accordance with operation of the
"calculation" button, and displayed in the text boxes in region
A63.
[0108] Concerning the abovementioned estimation, terminal device 11
first extracts the wind/wave state data within the period specified
by the data input in the "period" input box in region A61 and the
sea area on the navigation route specified by the data input in the
"port name" section of the table in region A62 from the wind/wave
state database (FIG. 14). Then, terminal device 11 calculates the
probability of occurrence per wind and wave parameter indicated by
the extracted wind/wave state data.
[0109] The probability of occurrence per wind and wave parameter
calculated by terminal device 11 or probability of occurrence of
ship speed, rotation speed, fuel consumption, navigation time and
amount of fuel consumed calculated by terminal device 11 using the
generation probability thereof is displayed in region A64 of FIG.
13 as a histogram. A user can specify the type of parameter for
which a histogram is displayed in region A64 by operating the menu
box in region A64.
[0110] Terminal device 11 calculates the probability of occurrence
per combination of wind and wave parameters using the probability
of occurrence per wind and wave parameters. Then, terminal device
11 generates relationship data per combination of wind and wave
parameters, and specifies other performance parameters (for
example, rotation speed and fuel consumption) corresponding to the
performance parameter input in the table in region A62 by a user
(for example, ship speed). Then, terminal device 11 calculates the
probability of occurrence of each of the performance parameters
(ship speed, rotation speed, fuel consumption) by multiplying the
performance parameters (ship speed, rotation speed, fuel
consumption) specified for each of a variety of combinations of
wind and wave parameters by the probability of occurrence of the
combination of corresponding wind and wave parameters.
[0111] Then, terminal device 11 calculates the generation
probability of the navigation time and amount of fuel consumed
using the probability of occurrence of the performance parameters.
For example, the probability of occurrence of the navigation time
is calculated on the basis of the probability of occurrence of the
distance and ship speed parameters indicated in the table in region
A62. The probability of the amount of fuel consumed is calculated
on the basis of the probability of occurrence of the fuel
consumption and the probability of occurrence of the navigation
time parameters. Terminal device 11 displays the histogram in
region A64 in accordance with the probability of occurrence data
that indicates the probability of occurrence calculated as
such.
[0112] Terminal device 11 calculates the average value of the
parameters by multiplying the probability of occurrence of the ship
speed, rotation speed, fuel consumption, navigation speed and
amount of fuel consumed calculated as described above by the values
of the parameters thereof. The average value calculated as such
becomes data that is displayed in regions A62 and A63.
[0113] Concerning the service simulation screen exemplified in FIG.
13, a user can know the fuel consumption, amount of fuel consumed
and the like during navigation of a ship that is estimated on the
basis of past wind/wave state data, and can know the probability of
occurrence of the parameters thereof. In FIG. 13, the probability
of occurrence of each of the parameters is set to be displayed as a
histogram, but the probability of occurrence may also be output in
another format such as a table format, for example.
[0114] (3) In the embodiment described above, a configuration in
which each of terminal device 11-1 and terminal device 11-2 is
provided with the functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 3
and generation of data for performing display of each type of
service screen described above is performed by generation means 113
is adopted. In place of this, a configuration in which, for
example, only either terminal device 11-1 or terminal device 11-2
is provided with the functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 3
and the terminal device 11 that is not provided with the functional
configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 receives the data required for
displaying each type of service screen from the other terminal
device 11 and displays the data may be adopted. Further, a
configuration in which neither terminal device 11-1 nor terminal
device 11-2 is provided with the functional configuration
illustrated in FIG. 3 and terminal 11 receives the data necessary
for displaying each type of service screen from the server device
provided with the functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 3
and displays the data may also be adopted.
[0115] (4) In the embodiment described above, the draft state data
is set to indicate forward draft and after draft, but the
configuration of the parameters can be modified to various
configurations such as a configuration in which the draft state
data indicates the draft at the centre of the bow and stern or a
configuration in which the draft state data indicates forward draft
and after draft of each of the starboard side and the port side of
the ship, for example. Similarly, in the embodiment described
above, the wind/wave state data is set to indicate wind direction,
wind speed, wave direction, wave height and wave period, but the
configuration of the parameters can be modified to various
configurations such as a configuration in which wave spectrum is
used in place of wave period, for example.
[0116] (5) In the embodiment described above, there is one item of
wind/wave state data acquired from meterologic/hydrographic
information distribution server device 12 on the service simulation
screen (FIG. 11) per section navigation route between ports, and
one parameter selected from among ship speed, rotation speed and
fuel consumption calculated in accordance with the wind/wave state
data per section navigation route between ports. In place of this,
a configuration in which terminal device 11 acquires wind/wave
state data from meteorologic/hydrographic information distribution
server device 12 pertaining to each partial navigation route that
is one route of the section navigation route that has been divided
into a plurality of routes, and calculates the ship speed, rotation
speed and fuel consumption per partial navigation route may be
adopted.
[0117] (6) In the explanation of the embodiment described above,
there is no particular mention of whether the navigation speed is
the ship speed relative to ground or ship speed relative to water.
Ship speed relative to ground or ship speed relative to water may
be adopted as the navigation speed.
[0118] (7) In the embodiment described above, the reference ship
characteristic data is set to be stored in terminal device 11 in
advance, but in place of this, a configuration in which terminal
device 11 acquires the reference ship characteristic data from
another device such as a server device and uses the data may be
adopted.
[0119] (8) In the embodiment described above, the wind/wave state
data is set to be data that indicates the wind and wave state, but
does not need to be data that indicates the state of both wind and
wave, but can be data that indicates the state of wind and/or
waves.
[0120] (9) In the embodiment described above, terminal device 11 is
configured such that terminal device 11 is realized by executing a
process according to an application program in a general computer.
In place of this, terminal device 11 may be configured as a
so-called exclusive device.
[0121] The present invention is grasped as each of a
data-processing device exemplified in terminal device 11, a program
for making a computer function as the data-processing device
exemplified in terminal device 11, a computer-readable recording
medium that continuously records said program, and a method of
processing executed by the data-processing device exemplified in
terminal device 11.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0122] 1. . . ship performance display system, 8. . . communication
satellite, 9. . . ship, 10. . . computer, 11. . . terminal device,
12. . . meteorologic/hydrographic information distribution server
device, 101. . . CPU, 102. . . memory, 103. . . communication
interface, 104. . . input/output interface, 111. . . storage means,
112. . . acquisition means, 113. . . generation means, 114. . .
output means, 1121. . . reference ship characteristic data
acquisition means, 1122. . . actual ship characteristic data
acquisition means, 1123. . . ship characteristic data acquisition
means, 1124 . . . wind/wave state data acquisition means, 1125. . .
draft condition data acquisition means, 1126 . . . speed indication
data acquisition means, 1127. . . speed indication data acquisition
means, 1128 . . . ship speed indication data acquisition means,
1131. . . ship characteristic data generation means, 1132. . .
relationship data generation means, 1133. . . graph data generation
means, 1134. . . fuel consumption indication data generation means,
1135. . . rotation speed indication data generation means, 1136. .
. ship speed indication data generation means, 1137. . . load
indication data generation means, 1138. . . navigation efficiency
indication data generation means.
* * * * *